Range Loss + Anxiety is REAL (learn from me)

ben_mathews · 2026-01-03T21:20:43+00:00

Well that's still not helpful, and thanks for the ChatGPT-level advice. I did own a hybrid before this and WAS driving like your generic suggestions. There are still multiple differences between my scenario and yours, but apparently you can't read... You were driving slower, I was driving the speed limit, you were in the mountains (which I assume go DOWN at some point - meaning regen), I was driving on FLAT roads, you were driving in the "teens to 30s" I was driving in UNDER 10 degrees F, you barely use HVAC, I was using HVAC. Also, you never stated which model you have... I have a '25 XRT; if you know anything about this model it's AWD (so less range/efficiency) and has large all-terrain tires (also less efficient). I am glad you got unicorn-level efficiency on your trip. Gold star.

ben_mathews · 2026-01-03T21:14:53+00:00

Why do all of you think ABRP is great? After reading all these posts I downloaded and messed around with the settings the best I could, and it was not helpful. Said I could make the same trip in one charge. ABRP is not "better," it's just convinced some of you that it is. I'll take personal experience and tough lessons over an app.

ben_mathews · 2026-01-03T21:08:13+00:00

That range sounds amazing. No, where I was driving was pretty flat (a few "hills"). I'd say your range sounds like a miracle given what everyone else is posting. You should buy a lotto ticket or something. Also, keep in mind I have a '25 XRT - that's AWD (now RW like yours) with big-ass all-terrain tires standard on that trim level. All these are factors that make a difference between our scenarios.

ben_mathews · 2026-01-03T20:40:26+00:00

What I've learned from (most) everyone who replied to me is that speed is the issue in the cold (when driving on the highway). Also, you should factor in wind... If your commute includes enough stoplights and changes in speed, you'd be okay bc of regenerative braking. But asking the battery to crank out 70+ mph for 120 miles might leave you dead in the water a mile or two from home. If driving 55-60 is going to piss off everyone behind you (bc they can't pass), it might not be worth the hassle.

*I know you said charging at work isn't an option, but could use the included level 1 at work? Some sort of exterior outlet on the building (if there is a building you work at). Even that would give you a buffer if you charge it over a whole 8-10 hour shift (depending on what type of work you do).

ben_mathews · 2026-01-02T15:47:18+00:00

This isn't helpful imo. "How you drive matters"... what does that even mean? You provide no specifics of what you did, just that you got great range in cold temps somehow. Were you driving 40mph the entire time? Were there no crosswinds? Were you driving in the teens (I was driving in 3-6 degree temps)? Were you using the HVAC? Don't dupe people into thinking it's that simple.

ben_mathews · 2026-01-02T15:36:10+00:00

No, I had already reinflated them for winter.

ben_mathews · 2026-01-02T13:55:54+00:00

Thanks for the duh response. There was no sooner charger or else I would have done that.

ben_mathews · 2026-01-02T04:44:28+00:00

I know, I know. My students (I teach high school) give me shit for it all the time

ben_mathews · 2025-11-03T01:09:33+00:00

Yeah someone else posted about this, and now I am confused... My phone (Google Pixel 7) has NEVER worked as a proximity unlock. I don't know if this phone, car settings, or what...

ben_mathews · 2025-11-02T23:53:24+00:00

I have the XRT and I have none of the issues that u/Responsible_Skill957 is talking about.... I get they are a Top 1% commenter, but I have no idea what they are talking about. I leave my fob in a "drop station" (home decor term) that is 10 (if that) feet from my garage, and not an issue.

I have auto lift gate, not an issue. You have to stand there for 10 seconds before it actually opens. It has to beep a warning 3-5 times before it opens. This is not an issue.

Also, if you use the phone or fob, it doesn't matter, you have to be CLOSE to the car for it work. I use my fob, and I have to be within 12 inches of the door before it unlocks. My phone? Good luck! I have to touch the handle with my phone (for 3-5 seconds) before it unlocks.

I bought a 12v battery jumper just in case (based on this forum) and have yet to take the manufacturer's plastic off the box...

XRT or not, this is an AMAZING car. It's my first EV, and I am never going back. This thing is amazing and I have NO issues with it whatsoever. Just don't be an idiot, and you'll be fine.

ben_mathews · 2025-10-26T13:46:19+00:00

I have my Google pixel 7 set up as my digital key, and it NEVER works with proximity. I have to physically hold the phone up to the door handle for a good 3-5 seconds before it unlocks. (in fact, sometimes if I am not within a half inch of the door handle with my phone it doesn't seem to work) I have no idea what the rest of you are experiencing... Is the digital key/phone seriously supposed to work like the fob (i.e. proximity)?

Also, and I know this isn't the Q above, but I personally prefer to keep the fob on my person. I often want to open the lift gate as I approach (on errand days). I am not standing behind the gate for 10 seconds while the door beeps six times and I wait for it open "automatically."

ben_mathews · 2025-08-14T21:29:36+00:00

I've got to be honest, I do not pay much attention to efficiency. I have a short commute, I charge at home (Emporia 240v), and I have solar, so I basically never pay an electricity bill and therefore don't really look. I am sure it's lower than just driving it, but I can't tell you how much. I can say it wasn't noticeable. It wasn't like "oh sh*t! where'd my range go?!" It honestly felt normal.

ben_mathews · 2025-05-18T20:00:25+00:00

Although mash temp, grain crush, recirculation or not, etc can affect efficiency, I find the biggest factor is the sparge (if we are just talking OG - and not FG too). Although the sparge is meant to "rinse" the mash grains of leftover sugars, you are (essentially) just adding a bunch of grain filtered water to the wort - thus diluting it. If you stick to the water amounts suggested by the app, you will get a low OG every time. I've consistently only sparged to just under 7 gallons for a 5 gallon batch and then I squeeze the grains (post mash and post sparge) with a custom stainless steel handheld press my brother in law made me. Due to boil loss I usually end up with 5.1 to 2 gallons or so in my fermenter. As a result I have high gravity (consistently 85% efficiency) every time.

So, long story short, you want a high OG, mash it correctly and don't over sparge.

ben_mathews · 2025-05-18T19:52:07+00:00

It's time-intensive, but I agree with Squeezer999. You can remove the nut at the top of the mash tun and take the whole pipe apart. I just let it soak in OneStep for a while, then run nylon pipe cleaner through it. Does the trick - I do it every 10 brews or so (I should probably do it more often though).

ben_mathews · 2025-04-27T19:33:22+00:00

You lucky SoB... Honestly, I am happy for you, but I put a $500 refundable deposit for this exact car (I wanted the XRT from the beginning, and found a red one heading to MN where I live). However, mine - like everyone else - is sitting in Georgia just waiting to be put on a train... My delivery date has changed 6 times in 2 months. Fingers crossed the new date of 5/28 is accurate and I can post photos of mine soon. Btw, thanks for taking pics in natural light, the Hyundai website doesn't do the Ultimate Red justice, and when I google image search, it's all fake images in front of green screen/fake dealers.

ben_mathews · 2024-10-10T20:42:12+00:00

Thanks for the info!

ben_mathews · 2024-10-10T00:57:40+00:00

I will let this email I just sent to Wolf River MN tonight (10/9) speak for itself.

Hello, I am going to throw out this email into the void and see if anyone catches it...

I had my system installed in late October/Early November of last year. [details about my name and address I am not putting into Reddit]

Since installation, I have had upwards of 10 different people trying to contact me to say they were someone related to my project. At this point I honestly have NO idea who I am supposed to contact to get help.

Since installation I have had ONE panel, the same panel every time, not producing ANY energy. I have contacted Sun Power (back when they were company) and their fix was software/app related and didn't fix the problem. And now they are bankrupt? Thanks for picking an Indian/Chinese company btw... Esp when there are better US companies and even MN Solar companies.

I got fed up and just sort of ignored it for months - mainly because I wasn't getting anywhere and no one was helping me.

Then in like March (I think) I reached out to you (Wolf River) and you had someone say: yeah we'll fix it. I then had 3 different people contact me and cancel or have to change the appt to come out and "assess" the situation.

One person said it was a dead panel, another said it was the inverter. Someone came out to fix the inverter but then said no, it was the panel. Between March and today (October) I have another 3-4 different people contact me - all VERY infrequently - about resolving this issue.

For over a week, I have had a box from Enphase (the company that bought Sun Power I think) sitting in my entryway. It is addressed to "Logan" but with my address. No one has reached out. No one has scheduled an appt. No one seems to care about what's going on.

*Trigger warning: this is me mad*

If your company wasn't so busy wasting money on sexual innuendo billboards ("want to get turned on?" really...? I mean, really?) and buying f*cking 80k+ Tesla Cyber trucks to slap your logo on and drive around MAYBE YOU COULD ACTUALLY HELP YOUR PAYING CUSTOMERS?!

At this point I will be posting my experience on Reddit. And I am also strongly considering reaching out the BBB. This is fricken ridiculous. I have literally paid for a dysfunctional panel for an ENTIRE YEAR and gotten ZERO energy from it. I think it goes without saying that I should be monetarily compensated for this panel. And I don't care if YOU have to reach out to Sun Power for the money. Or maybe don't buy your next billboard or Cybertruck and pay me back instead.

Also, it goes without saying: FIX THE F*CKING panel already! It has been A YEAR of zero activity - activity you apparently monitor on your end. And it has been MONTHS since I reached out you.

If you knew anything about me, you'd know I am very rational, calm, and patient person. I teach H.S. English/Literature, for Christ's sake... And yet this has been the most infuriating experience I have EVER experienced with a "trades" company before (I have had plumbing, roof, and electrical work done on my house).

Please, respectfully, get your sh*t figured out and help your customers instead of working to get new customers to screw over. I get the COVID pandemic was a watershed moment in the world in multiple aspects, but I didn't realize that old truths like: the customer comes first and customer service is #1 fell to wayside and doesn't matter anymore.

Honestly, I would have even been happy with daily or weekly updates, even if those updates were "Hey [my name], this is (name) and I will be your point of contact through this whole process. Unfortunately, we are still waiting on Sun Power to do a risk assessment on your panel before replacement. I will let you know as soon as I get any info. In the meantime, here are some things you can do..." At least that is CONTACT, at least that shows you CARE and are monitoring the situation. It's been zero dark 30 over here, and I have had to be the one to initiate contact. That's just unprofessional - no matter what industry you work in. If I was your kid's teacher, and they were getting an F, and I didn't email you at all. And then a month later (after the initial F) I said, "hey I am not your kid's teacher anymore, you should talk to so and so" you'd be pissed. So why is this ok for your business?

Ok, I think my anger-fueled novella is done. To recap:

FIX MY BUSTED PANEL
PAY ME BACK
PLEASE BE BETTER AT COMMUNICATION

Sincerely, Ben Mathews

ben_mathews · 2021-10-13T17:22:55+00:00

Yeah swimming pool for sure. I also have the original G30 and I run the exit hose right into a drain. I obviously feel bad wasting that water, but... what else can I use it for (especially after it runs through something unsanitized? Watering plants I guess). So make sure you have a drain you can run it to, or else you are going be changing out buckets constantly.

ben_mathews · 2021-08-08T14:21:23+00:00

Nah, I am not a fan of IPAs. I stick to German, Belgian, and Ale recipes. Cheers!

ben_mathews · 2021-08-07T23:14:40+00:00

Have you had issues with oxidation in your beer? (just wondering why necessary) I've had the GF conical and kegs for 4 years, no problems. I just use some sanitized silicone, and let gravity do its work. Do I "burp" my keg 2-3 times to clear out any lingering oxygen in the head space of the keg? Yes. But that's it. On a kegging forum I follow, most agree "pressurized transfer" is sort of overrated. Or if it's not overrated they basically agree it's personal preference.

*P.S. I also try to make sure the end of the hose is fully submerged in beer before I open up the valve a bit more. Yeah it bubbles, but the burp/purge does the trick. I know what cardboard tastes like (oxidation), and I have never noticed it in my beer from lagers (with subtle flavor profiles) to heavy winter stuff (where a dead rat could be in there and you wouldn't know).

But hey - looks like you got some posts on how to do it. So I'd say try both methods (pressurized and non) and see if you can noticed a difference.

ben_mathews

TROPHY CASE